Packaging machine



July 7, 1970 R. L. DAVIDSON ET AL 3,513,806

PACKAGING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 14. 1968 m MM 0 U wwYR K WSNEE fiw WA HRHN DACS LH.EC. W/ HSLL PEUE LMAM I AAPA RJ D K 9 mm 2M m om mf ---w= ATTORNEYS July 7, 1970 R. L. DAVIDSON ET PACKAGING MACHINE Filed May 14, 1968 7 Sheets$heet 2 m N (\I I0 I 8 I 8 g8 i "3 Wm I N I I= Tm I m 0 N co m E I I I I o I m w I N l I I l J l (D I o '9 E N Q i In Q0 |I \I l w 3 II} I I j N N II l N (O l g g g N I i I H :I I I a 1 I i I I I l :1 I4, 1.1.1 JLI' 1311px!) I I 1 I, I If? I I I' f 4 I I I: I I N i Q i I I Q- II {I I I I} I N H II I l II I I I 1- I I m I I AJ-QJTHJ i co I I v I (D I I I I g 2 9 8 k E 5 A v 311 o 'o"? ?a "6 LLTHJ 1 l J, I I

o co 5} INVENTORS RALPH L. DAVIDSON 3X53 BY DANIEL c1 SNYDER KWIM If ATTORNEYS PACKAGING MACHINE R. L. DAVIDSON ET AL INVENTORS DAVIDSON ARSENAULT CHENEY SNYDER ATTORNEYS July 7, 1970 Filed May 14, 1968 1 row J:

July 7, 1970 R. L. DAVIDSON E AL 3,518,806

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed May 14, 1968 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 O N 2' a L F m, g N N (O I N o I L \0 Q x. Q! P fqT o 2 LJL"-\ i r w a Q. FJ

m It) :5 2 I U- N J 210 2 Q a 8 ;:j:

INVENTORS RALPH L. DAVIDSON JAMES H. ARSENAULT PAUL E. CHENEY B DANIEL C. SNYDER ATTORNEYS July 7, 1970 R. L. DAVIDSON ETAL 3,518,806

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed May 14. 1968 7 Sheets-Sheet a INVENTORS RALPH L DAVIDSON JAMES H. ARSENAULT PAUL E. CHENEY BY DANIEL C. SNYDER ATTORNEYS July7, 1970 R. L. DAVIDSON ETAL 3,518,806

PACKAGING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 14. 1968 "J nll III lllllll v I I I I I I l l l l1 rL wwi 6n. 6!

2m 9 oI INVENTORS OAVIR R mNeE o IEND T VSEY T ARHN A DACS RALPH L JAMES H PAUL E BY DANIEL C W, Twmy NJ du'ffi July 7, 1970 Filed may 14, 1968 R. L. DAVIDSON ET AL 3,518,806

PAcKAOING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 soo 3oa' VERTROD F HEATER BAR No.

288 A9; UP

ELEVATOR 57 DOWN e L. SEALING BARS L ETBQ J 3|6 OUT 3IB M4 IN TABLE TOP g i k m 4 x 338 320) OUT I2, I

322 MOUT ROLL EJECTOR 324) IN 32 308 274 276 LYEK'EEPJ CONVEYOR MOTOR 282 254 L L m N K BLOWER MOTOR FIG. I2

INVENTORS RALPH DAVIDSON JAMES H. ARSENAULT PAUL E. CHENEY BY DANIEL c. SNYDER ATTORNEYS United States Patent 01 :"fice 3,518,806 Patented July 7, 1970 3,518,806 PACKAGING MACHINE Ralph L. Davidson, Worcester, James H. Arsenault, Whitinsville, and Paul E. Cheney and Daniel C. Snyder, Fitchburg, Mass, assignors to Curtis & Marble Machine Co., Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed May 14, 1968, Ser. No. 729,060 Int. Cl. B6511 11/06, 12/02, 57/14 US. Cl. 53---59 15 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention is an apparatus for packaging bolts of cloth or other materials in heat-scalable plastic sheet material, comprising an elevator for moving a bolt in an upward direction against a sheet of the packaging material to draw the latter around the bolt. A pair of platforms at the top of the apparatus open so that the bolt with its enveloping material moves through the opening. The doors or platforms then close to support the package while heat sealing means move inwardly to heat seal the packaging material. Thereafter, a pushing means moves the package of material onto one of the platforms for delivery thereby immediately or at a later time at the will of the operator.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION In the art of wrapping a heat-sealable plastic sheet material around a package, and thereafter sealing the material so as to complete the envelope, it is known to build apparatus having two sources of supply (generally rolls) of sheet packaging material which have their leading edges sealed together, and the thus joined sheets are stretched across the path of a horizontally moving package which is to be enveloped by the packaging material. Heat sealing jaws or members are moved against the thus drawn together sheets to seal the sheets together in back of the package, and at the same time sever the packaging material so that the severing takes place along a line lying in the fused or sealed joint. Thus, the envelope surrounding the package is sealed by a fused joint, and the sheet material itself again presents to the path of the package a continuous sheet.

However, the prior art machines are generally designed to take packages which are relatively small in size, and as a result these packaging machines have not required motivating apparatus of very heavy weight or exceptionally long throws. The present invention is primarily adapted to packaging large objects such as, for example, bolts of cloth, with a heat-sealable plastic envelope, where the bolts may vary in size from a small package of, for example, six inches in diameter and two feet long to a much larger bolt which may be as many as two feet in diameter and several feet long. If the prior art machines were adapted to package a large bolt of cloth such as one two feet in diameter and five feet long. the machines would be extremely bulky in size, and cumbersome in operation. There is also considerable question as to whether or not the packaging material used would be one that would withstand tearing where such large bolts are covered, particularly in machines which move their packages horizontally.

In regard to the packaging of large diameter rolls, there is also the difficulty that if any of the prior art machines are adapted to vertically lift a bulky roll to accomplish packaging the top of the machine will be as many as seven or eight feet from the floor. This means that when the packaged roll is to be delivered from the machine, it must be returned from this height to ground level. This entails expensive return machinery, or, if a free drop is used, it may be comparatively diflicult to handle the roll due to its size and weight.

In one of the prior art patents (US. Pat. 1,953,097) one of the basic ideas of moving a package to be enveloped with a plastic heat sealing material is shown, in which the package is moved vertically, and then heat sealing means move horizontally to seal the plastic sealing material beneath the package. However, the machine describes the basic idea only and does not provide a suitable mechanism for overcoming the above problems. The other prior art patents also do not teach mechanisms which solve the above problems.

Another feature of the present invention not found in the prior art is that the prior art machines are generally adapted for a given shape of package to be covered, whereas insofar as bolts of cloth are concerned, they come in several shapes such as the large rolls referred to above, or bolts of cloth which are more rectangular in shape. Therefore, there is needed a machine which can be readily and quickly adapted to work with either shape of bolt of cloth, and the prior art, to the extent known, does not supply such a machine.

In the prior art, no satisfactory means are taught to solve other problems which are encountered in the handling of large, bulky and heavy objects, such as the means to be used to convey such objects into the machine preparatory to being packaged; and the means for always positioning an object to be packaged in such manner that sealing always takes place at a given point close to the bottom thereof, and in such manner that, regardless of the size of the object, the plastic material is always drawn around the object with the proper fit.

SUMMARY This invention accordingly comprises an apparatus or machine of the vertical lift type for packaging objects of several different sizes and shapes, in an automatic or at least a semiautomatic manner, so that once the object is deposited in the machine, all packaging operations thereafter take place automatically. The machine operates to lift the object vertically, the object drawing around itself, as it so moves, an envelope of the packaging material. The source of the packaging material is so arranged with respect to the machine and thus the object, and with respect to heat sealing means, that after the object has come to rest on a pair of horizontal platforms which first automatically open to receive the object and then automatically close to hold it in a given position, that the plastic material is sealed below the object at a preselected point to obtain uniformity of packaging. When scaling is done, the packaging material is so severed that the sheet material remains in a joined condition, thus presenting a continuous sheet of packaging material with respect to the next bolt to be packaged. Means which either may be automatic or manually controlled are provided, for delivery of a packaged bolt of cloth to the operator at a lower level without having too great a drop of the package to the lower level. The machine also incorporates means for adjusting trigger switches so as to accommodate either round rolls or bolts of the cloth or bolts which are somewhat rectangular or oval in cross-section, this operation being effective from a position external on the machine.

Among the several objects of the invention, therefore, may be noted the following: the provision of a machine or apparatus for packaging objects ranging in size from relatively small to relatively large both in girth and length; the provision of the last-named class in which the packaging operations are controlled either automatically by the machine once the object to be covered is placed on an elevator in the machine and the machine is started, or the object may be prepositioned in the machine but packaged at a time at the will of the operator; a machine ofthe above classes in which the entire operation can be made automatic, so as to feed the objects to be packaged to the machine automatically, package them automatically, and then deliver them from the machine automatically; apparatus of any of the above classes, in which for packaging the object is moved in a vertical direction and the material used for enclosing the object is automatically collected around the package and thereafter sealed to form an envelope, the package always coming to a predetermined position of rest for the sealing operation to take place; and the provision of apparatus of any of the above classes which is relatively simple to make, and easy to operate as well as being relatively economical in maintenance.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be in part pointed out hereinafter and in part obvious from a reading of this application.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, arrangements of parts, and manipulation of the apparatus all of which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings in which is illustrated one of several embodiments of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a rear elevation of an embodiment of the invention, that is, an elevation looking at the exit side or end of the machine;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the FIG. 1 embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the FIG. 1 embodiment, given to show details of the inner mechanism thereof;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a portion of the machine, partly in section, given to show in greater detail certain features of construction;

FIG. 5 is an end view, partly in section, of an elevator portion of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a rear elevation of the elevator platform of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a portion of the apparatus, the view being given to show in greater detail the assembly of rack and table operating elements of invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional elevation of a portion of the FIG. 7 detail, given to show in enlarged view certain details of construction;

FIGS. '9-11 are three views given to show three stages in the operation of the apparatus; and

FIG. 12 is a schematic wiring diagram showing the connections among the several switches which are used to control the apparatus.

Throughout the drawings, similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts, and dimensions of certain of the parts as shown in the drawings may have been modified and/or exaggerated for the purposes of clarity of illustration and understanding of the invention.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, arrangements of parts, and manipulation of the apparatus all of which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appendd claims.

The invention will be described in reference to packaging bolts of cloth, but it will be obvious that other objects may be also packaged. Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a rear elevation of the apparatus of this invention, in which the word rear refers to that portion of the apparatus from which the packaged bolts of cloth emerge after being enveloped in the plastic covering or packaging material. The apparatus consists of a framework 3 made of conventional angle iron uprights 2, the construction of the framework following designers choice, and therefore not being more fully described herein, except as may be indicated below. Within the framework 3, which is approximately four to five feet high by six to eight long is located an elevator indicated generally by numeral 4, a system of supporting rolls or platform on the elevator indicated generally by numeral 6, an elevating means for the elevator, indicated generally by numeral 8, a top platform mechanism indicated generally by numeral 10 (the latter consisting of two horizontally sliding platforms 12 and 14) (see FIGS. 2 and 3); and the heat sealing mechanism comprising heater and presser bars 216, 218 on the two arms 16 and 18 (see FIG. 3) pivoted at the bottom of the platform and swingable toward each other so that the bars 216 and 218 meet at the plane of meeting of the platforms 12 and 14 (indicated by numeral 20) An inlet conveyor 22 is provided, the conveyor being of conventional structure and not further detailed herein, except to state that the conveyor is a belt trained on the motivating pulleys 24 which are rotated by the motor 26 which drives the gear train 28. It will be noted that the inlet end of the conveyor is located adjacent to the platform 6 on the elevator 4, thus being in position to deliver a bolt or roll of cloth 30 (indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 3) from the conveyor 22 to the platform 6, the bolt in the latter position being indicated by numeral 148.

Also mounted on top of the platforms 10 is a push element or ejector 32, the function of which is to push a packaged bolt of cloth from a position just above the meeting point 20 of the platforms 12 and 14 toward the exit or rear end of the machine, there to be positioned for delivery on the table or platform 14 upon demand of the operator of the machine, or automatically, depending upon the will of the operator.

The rear delivery table assembly 14 is provided with a series of rollers 34 which are mounted in conventional manner on bearings, in suitably provided openings in section 40 of the table 14, with the surfaces of the roller projecting slightly above the surface of section 40. The function of the rollers 34 is to enhance the moving of a heavy bolt of cloth (particularly where the bolt is flat sided such as a rectangular shaped bolt) from the meeting point 20 of the platforms 12 and 14, over to a position on the section 40 where the bolt is held stationary and ready for delivery by the platform when called for. Also, if desired, a pair of single rollers 36 may be provided in section 38 of the table assembly 14 in order to facilitate such movement of a packaged bolt of cloth from section 38 to the section 40.

The base structure 3 comprises the conventional angleiron uprights 2 joined at top and bottom by cross-bars 44, 46, 48, 50 and 112.

Within the framework thus described, the elevator 4 is guided by means of the rollers 52 mounted at each end thereof and in opposing relationship on the vertical guide beams 54, the latter being supported at their lower ends by cross-bars 55 attached to bars 50, and at the upper ends by cross-bars 56 which are mounted on the legs 2 at each side of the machine. The elevator 4 comprises a laterally extending angle iron strut or base 58 of conventional nature to which is attached at each end a roll supporting plate 156 by means of brackets 154.

Attached to elevator 4 are the upright bearing bushings 60, as by bolting or welding, these supporting thereon the pairs of rollers 62, the function of which is to support bolts of material to be packaged. While two pair of the rollers '62 are shown, it is obvious that other numbers of rollers may be used, depending upon the requirements of the machine being constructed.

Elevator 4 is raised and lowered by means of the horizontal air cylinder 8 having a piston 64. Piston 64 terminates in a clevis 66 on which are coaxially mounted a pair of pulleys 68 (one being shown). Mounted at each end of the framework of the apparatus are the stationary pulleys 70 and 72 respectively. Mounted at the top of the framework are the stationary pulleys 74 and 76. Attached to a strut 77 on the base of the framework is a stationary pulley 78. Also suitably mounted on the base of the apparatus are the hitch rings 80 (one being shown). A steel cable 82 is fastened to one of the hitch rings 80 and from the ring is trained around one of the pulleys 68, the pulley 72 and 76. The other end of cable 82 is fastened to one end of the elevator 4. Another steel cable 83 similar to cable 82 is fastened to the other hitch ring, and is trained around the other of the pulleys 68, the pulley 78, and pulleys 70 and 74. The free end of cable 83 is attached to the other end of elevator 4.

From this construction, it is obvious that when the piston 64 is retracted into the cylinder 8, each of the steel cables will be pulled with the result that the ends of the platform 4 will rise the same distance along the vertical guide members 54, thus maintaining the elevator 4 parallel to the base of the machine in its up and down motion.

In addition, it will be observed that because of the method of actuation, the rise of the elevator will be just twice that of the motion of the piston 64.

A second and important feature of the construction is that by adopting the method of hoisting the elevator as shown, it is possible to have the actuating cylinder lie in a horizontal position and preferably below the elevator 4 although the cylinder could, if desired, be placed to one side thereof. However, by this technique, the vertical height of the machine for a given size bolt of cloth, is greatly lessened. For example, if the pulley system shown were not used, and the cylinder 8 were mounted vertically beneath the elevator 4, then the stroke of the piston would have to be equal to the full operative travel of the elevator. This, of course, would mean that the piston of the vertical cylinder would have to be the same length. As a result, the bottom position of the elevator 4 would be at the top of the cylinder, with the result that the entire height of the machine, and thus the position of a wrapped package at the top of the machine, would be increased by the additional length of the cylinder. This, as explained earlier in this description, would mean that the wrapped package of cloth or other material would have that much further to drop down from the top of the machine for further processing operations or delivery from the machine. In view of the fact that the bolts of cloth may weigh several hundred pounds, this would not be a desirable feature. As a result, the use of the horizontal piston accomplishes several advantages.

As indicated above, mounted at the top of the apparatus are a set of horizontally moving platforms 12 and 14, with platform 14 being composed of the two portions 38 and 40, these being hinged together by an elongated hinge 84. As indicated in FIGS. 7 and 8, in which are shown the end portions of these platforms and their mounting and actuating means, platform 12 has extensions 86 at its ends, and platform 38 has extensions 88 at its ends. Extensions 88 extend downwardly to form a bracket 90. Attached by bolts to each of the extensions 86 are the racks 92, each rack being provided with the key-ways 94. Similarly, the brackets 90 (at each end of table 38) are attached to racks 96 which are provided with the key-ways 98 on each side thereof. The length of the extensions 86 and 88 are such that the respective racks 92 and 96 overlie each other at each end of the apparatus. Rack 92 slides by means of the key-ways 94 on gibs 100 which are conventionally mounted at the top of an elongated, hollow supporting channel 102 which receives the rack 92. A similar pair of gibs 104 is :mounted at the bottom of the channel 102 (see FIG. 8), and on these slides the rack 96, the latter being received within the channel. Channel 102 is made of steel side members joined at their ends, in order to space the side members apart. The spacing is such as to receive the racks 92 and 96 with a smooth sliding fit, and the gibs 100 and 104 are vertically spaced so that when the racks are on the gibs, the racks will receive between them the pinion 106. The pinion is rotatably fastened to channel 102 by means of a pin 108 journaled in the holes 110' in the side members of the channel. Channel 102 is bolted in conventional manner to a cross bar 112 which in turn is fastened to the laterally extending ends 114 of the front and rear top cross bars of the apparatus.

As is clear from the above the rack and pinion structure supplied at the other end of the platforms is similarly supported on gibs which are attached to the apparatus.

Mounted at each side of the top of the framework of the apparatus are a pair of air cylinders 116, the pistons 118 of which have their ends attached by means of a conventional clevis construction to the upright tongues 120 which in turn are attached to the platform 12. Thus, when the air cylinders 116 are actuated, the pistons will move the platform 12 and the latter, through the interengagement of the aforesaid racks and pinions, will move the platform 14.

It is to be noted at this point, that for the sake of light ness and low mass, the several parts of the platforms are made hollow. However, this is merely a preferred method and it is not critical.

Attached to the underpart of the table section 40 are the generally triangularly-shaped cam rails 124 (see FIGS. 4 and 9-11). The number of these cam rails is at the users choice, dependent upon the length of the table section 40, but as shown in the instant embodiment, three are used. The lower edge of the cam rails rest upon suitable roller bearings 126 which in turn are fastened to the top front bar 44 of the apparatus. As a result of this construction, when the platform assembly 14 moves outwardly upon actuation of the cylinder 116, the platform section 40 will tilt downwardly. (See FIGS. 9-11.) On the other hand, when the platforms are at their innermost position, then the top of the section 40 is horizontal.

The ejector 32 is a rectangular plate as shown, and is mounted on the 'upright leg of an L-shaped bracket 128. The horizontal leg 130 of the bracket is bifurcated to form rearwardly extending legs 132 and 134, these legs being bifurcated so as to clear the cylinder support (described below). Bracket 128 is attached to one end of piston 136 of an air cylinder 138. This cylinder is mounted on a plate 140, which is slidably engaged by a pair of small brackets 142 mounted on the cross bar 46. Located on the center line of the plate and of a length comparatively as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, there is provided a slot 144 through which passes in slidable manner a T-bolt 146 which is threaded into the table 12. By this construction, a lost motion is provided with respect to the relationship between the cylinder 138 and the platform 12, as well as between the cylinder 138 and the fixed cross bar 46. The result of this is to enable the use of a much shorter cylinder 138 than would otherwise be the case, for extending the ejector 32 far enough to the left (see FIG. 4) so as to be over the section 38 of the platform 14 when the two platforms 12 and 14 are fully opened.

That is, starting with the position shown in FIG. 9, when the platforms 12 and 14 open to receive the roll 148 which is to be covered, the cylinder 138 has been moved its furthest position to the right by engagement of the T-bolt 146 with the back end of the slot 144, the T-bolt being moved by table 12. In so moving the cylinder, it is enabled to slide in the brackets 142. In the next position as shown in FIG. 10, the platform 12 has commenced to move to the left as viewed, and as it does the T-bolt 146 engages the forward end of the slot 144 thus drawing the piston to the left as viewed. Finally, in the closed position of the platforms 12 and 14 (FIG. 11), the cylinder 138 has been pulled in the brackets 142 to its extreme left-hand position. Thus, when the piston 136 is actuated it need move the ejector 32 as far as is shown in FIG. 2. Thus, as indicated above, a shorter piston and cylinder length may be used than would otherwise be the case.

Mounted on the elevator base 58 is a micro-switch 7 158 the contacts of which are actuated by a finger 160 which projects slightly above the tops of the rolls 62 so that if a roll of cloth is resting on the rolls, the fingers 160 will be depressed to actuate the switch.

Mounted on each of the guides 54 is a support plate 164 (see FIGS. and 6). Extending between plate 164 and fastened thereto by suitable means is a support bar 166. On bar 166 are mounted a plurality of bearing members 168. The bearing members 168 are provided with bearing holes journalling the rod 170. Attached to the rod 170 are a plurality of guide fingers 172, these being locked to the rod 170 in conventional manner, for example, as by the bushings and set screws 174. At the other end of the rod 170 is fastened a collar 176 to which is attached by conventional means a lever 178. A threaded nut 180 is swiveled to the end of the actuating arm 178, and an adjusting rod 182 which has one end threaded is screwed into the nut 180. The other end of the adjusting rod 182 is held in a bearing suitably mounted on one of the upright members 2. At the forward end of the rod 182 is mounted a hand-wheel 184 in conventional manner.

Thus, by turning the hand-wheel 184, the angular position of the guide fingers 172 may be adjusted with respect to the center of the elevator platform.

A switch 186 is mounted on the supporting bar 166, and its contacts are actuated by a feeler finger 188. As seen in FIG. 5, when a rectangular or oval-shaped package of goods 190 rests on the top of the elevator, finger 188 will be actuated when the package of goods is approximately centered on the elevator.

Positioned at each end of the machine, as indicated above, is a pair of bars 16 and 18 which constitute legs which carry heat sealing and severing means 216 and 218. Each of the legs is conventionally mounted at the base of the machine as, for example, by means of the pivots 194 which are properly positioned and mounted on the bottom cross-bars of the framework of the apparatus. Each of the arms 16 and 18 at both ends of the structure are actuated by means of pistons 196 of the air cylinders 198. The bottom end of each cylinder is pivotally mounted in a clevis 200 in conventional manner, the latter being mounted on uprights 2. The end of each piston supports a pivot block 202, these pivot blocks having journaled therein the ends of a plurality of arms 204 and 206. The upper ends of the arms 204 are pivoted at the top of the apparatus by means of conventional clevises 208 attached to the framework, and the arms 206 are conventionally pivoted to the upper ends of the arms 16 and 18 as shown in FIG. 3.

Spanning the arms 16 on one side of the elevator 6 is a cushion or pressing element 210, and spanning the arms 18 on the other side of the elevator is the heating element unit 212. Each of these elements is conventional in shape, and mounted on the forward face of the cushion 210 is a narrow jaw portion 214 on which is stretched a Teflon-covered cut-off wire 216. The jaw 214 comprises two layers of Teflon-coated g ass fiber material, the latter being thick enough to give a cushioning effect.

In a similar manner, mounted on the forward face of the element 212 is the actual heating element jaw 218 which is a thermal-impulse heat-sealing unit Model No. 96 obtainable from Vertrod Corp. of Brooklyn, NY. The purpose of the backup members 210 and 212 is to give support to the jaw 214 and a heating element 218. In a manner similar to that of jaw 214, the jaw or heating element 218 has on its face two layers of Teflon coated glass fiber. In both these cases, the Teflon coating (as well as the Teflon coating on the wire 216) is used in order to prevent the plastic wrapping material from sticking to the jaws.

Also mounted on the arms 16 is a pair of brackets 220, one on each of the arms, and spanning these brackets is a squeeze roller 222 and a guide roller 224, a space 8 being left between the rollers 222 and 224 for the passage of packaging film. In similar manner, on the arms 18, one on each arm, are provided the brackets 226, the squeeze roller 228 and guide roller 230.

At the exit side of the machine and mounted on suitable :brackets 234 supported on the upright members 2 are a roll 236 of supply material, and a spare roll 238 of the same material. The bracket mountings and the suspension of the rolls is conventional and no further description will be given herein. The material is any one of the heat scalable plastic materials, for example, such as Pliofilm, Koroscal and heat-sealing cellophane. (Pliofilm is a rubber hydrochloride product sold by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company of Akron, Ohio.) On the entrance side of the machine are mounted a pair of supporting. brackets 240, the mounting being conventional. Supported on the brackets 240 are a supply roll 242 of the plastic material, and a spare roll 244 of the same material. From the roll 236 a sheet of the packing material 246 is led over a guide roll 248 suitably fastened to the framework of the apparatus and between the squeeze roll 222 and the guide roll 224. In similar manner, a sheet of material 250 is lead from the supply roll 242 past a guide-roll similar to roll 248 and between the squeeze and guide rolls 228 and 230, respectively. The leading ends of the sheets 246 and 250 meet in a sealed portion 252 which overlies the elevator and thus overlies a roll or bolt of cloth 148 which is in position to be raised upwardly for packaging.

Attached to the apparatus at a convenient point is an air blower 254 the hoses of which (256 and 258) are arranged to point upwardly (see FIGS. 1 and 3) so that air therefrom will blow upwardly past the outer ends of the roll 148 of goods. The purpose of this air is to support the free (and thus loose) extending ends of the packaging material, so that when the roll is pushed upwardly beyond the platforms 12 and 14 and these platforms then close, these free ends of the packaging material will not be caught between the platforms. Other means to support these extending free ends may be used, but it has been found that the use of the air from the air blower is adequate.

A rod 262 has one end attached to the push-bar structure 32 and moves with the push-bar. At the rear end of the finger 262 there is slidably and adjustably mounted an upwardly extending pin 264 which actuates the contact mechanism of a switch 266, the latter being attached to the platform 12.

Mounted on one of the cross bars 112 at the top of the machine is a switch 268, the contact actuating finger 270 of which projects over the extension 86 of the platform 12. The finger 270 lies adjacent the top of the platform in order to be actuated by a bolt head 272 when the platform moves to a closed position. When the platform opens, the bolt head 272 also moves the finger 270, but the switch 268 is so constructed that the contacts thereof are actuated only when the platform 12 moves toward a closing position and not when the platform moves toward an open position.

Mounted at the upper ends of each of the arms 18 and facing toward the other arms 16 are the switches 274 and 276. Positioned on arms 16 to actuate switches 274 and 276 when the arms 16 and 18 move together in order to accomplish a sealing operation, are the adjustable studs 278, the studs being adjusted so that when the arms are in their heat sealing position, the switches 274 and 276 are actuated.

Mounted on the cross bars 56 are the switches 280 and 282, one on each side of the machine, these switches being so positioned that upon the elevator rising to the position that the lowest point on the perimeter of the roll 148 is just at the table top level, these switches will be actuated by the elevator.

Mounted on a bracket 284 which is fastened to the base of the machine is a switch 286 so positioned that when the elevator is in its bottom position, this switch will be actuated to cause another operation of the elevator upon a proper Signal.

Also mounted on the cross member 112 but at the end thereof (see FIG. 2) is a switch 288 whose finger 290 overlies the table 12 in such position that when table 12 reaches its furthermost open point, the switch 288 is actuated; for example, as by the bolt head 292 or other suitable projection on the table.

Referring now to FIG. 12, there is shown a wiring diagram for the device. A source of power 300 is supplied, as is conventional, with leads to a transformer 302 the purpose of which is to reduce the working voltage down to 110 volts A.C. after the points t -t From the points 23-2 a pair of leads 304 and 306 lead to the Vertrod Corp. unit 308 (No. D201-0649) which is readily obtained on the open market. The function of the Vertrod unit 308 is to control the heat applied to the heater bar 218 which is illustrated schematically on the drawing. Vertrod unit 308 also contains, as a part of its circuitry thus purchaseable, a delay relay circuit which is effective H to maintain the jaws 216 and 218 in contact while sealing takes place and to actuate certain other elements, as described below.

The solenoid coils for the four-way, double solenoid, detented valve that controls the motion of the elevator 6 (that is, controls the actuation of the cylinder 8), are indicated by numerals 310 and 312, actuation of solenoid 310 causing the elevator to move up, and actuation of solenoid 312 causing the elevator to move down.

The solenoid coils of the same type of valve that controls the actuation of the sealing bars (that is, that control the actuation of the cylinders 198), are indicated by numerals 314 and 316, solenoid 314 causing the sealing bars to move together, and solenoid 316 causing the bars to move away from each other.

In similar fashion, the solenoid coils of the same type of valve for controlling the motion of the table tops (that is, for controlling air cylinders 116) are indicated by numerals 318 and 320, solenoid 318 actuating the cylinders to move the table tops together, and solenoid 320 actuating the cylinders to move the table tops apart.

The solenoid coils of the same type of Valve for actuating the roll ejector cylinder 138 are indicated by numerals 322 and 324, solenoid 322 causing the ejector to push a roll of scaled cloth onto the table 14, and solenoid 324 actuating the air cylinder to retract the pusher 322.

A manually-actuated switch 326 which is a single pole, double-throw switch, or a double pole, double-throw switch, may be connected as shown in the wiring diagram, the switch being so connected in the circuit that when the circuits 328 and 330 are closed by actuating the switch, feeler switch 158 is connected in the circuit to sense the position of round packages; and when the contacts 332 and 334 are connected, the feeler switch 186 is connected in the circuit to sense the position of flat packages. Thus, depending upon what type of package (round or rectangular) is to be sealed by the apparatus, the manually operated switch 326 is set accordingly. A manually controlled switch 336 is used to turn on and off the conveyor system 22, but through switch 286 and either switch 158 or switch 186. Conveyor motor 26 is connected across the power source through the switches 336, 286, 326 and either switch 158 or 186. Thus, with switch 336 closed, the conveyor will not run to deposit a roll on the elevator until switch 286 is closed by the bottom position of the elevator; and when the roll of cloth is properly positioned thereon, either switch 158 or switch 186 will open to stop the conveyor.

A manually operated switch 338 is used to start the operation of the circuit.

One side of the line 350 is connected to switches 288, 268, 280, 266, 336, and 282. (The later switch controls the blower motor 254.) The other side of the line 352 is connected to the common side of the solenoid coils 310 and 312, 314 and 316, 318 and 320, 322 and 324; and

to one side of switch 376, and one side of the conveyor motor, as well as to blower motor 254.

The other side of the conveyor motor is connected to one side of switches 158 and 186. The other sides of each of these switches are respectively connected to contacts 330 and 344 as described above. The contacts 328 and 332 are connected in common to one side of switch 286. As shown, the other side of switch 286 is connected to the manually operated switch 336.

The other side of switch 276 is connected to one side of switch 274, and the other side of switch 274 is connected to the Vertrod unit 308. One side of each of solenoids 320 and 324 is connected to one side of the switch 338, the other side of which is connected to one side of switch 266. Each of the other sides of solenoids 316 and 332 is connected to the Vertrod unit 308. (The operation of the solenoid coils 316 and 322 is controlled by the time delay circuit in the Vertrode unit itself, this time delay circuit being connected to an output terminal on the Vertrod unit so that the connection may be conveniently made.) The other side of solenoid 318 is connected to the other side of switch 280. Each of the other sides of solenoids 312 and 314 is connected to one side of switch 268. Finally, the other side of solenoid 310 is connected to the other side of switch 288.

The operation of the circuit as thus connected is as follows:

Starting with a bolt of cloth to be wrapped and sealed on the elevator, and with the table tops 12 and 14 in closed position; with the switch 266 having been closed by a previous operation of the table tops; and with switch 286 closed, and either switch 158 or 186 (depending on the position of switch 326) open: The manually operated switches 336 and 338 are then both manually closed. When this is done, solenoids 320 of the table top pistons 116 are actuated. The table tops move out, and this motion then actuates switch 288, the actuation of the latter then powering the solenoid 310 to actuate cylinder 8 and move the elevator upwardly to lift the roll of cloth. The roll of cloth moves through the opening thus provided between the table tops, and when the latter are fully open with the bolt of cloth being supported by the elevator just above the plane of the top-s, the switch 280' is actuated by the elevator to energize solenoid 318 to cause cylinders 116 to close the table tops beneath the roll of cloth.

FIG. 9 illustrates the position of the table tops 12 and 14 with the roll of cloth passing through the opening therebetween. This view clearly shows how the roll of cloth draws the film sections 246 and 250 upwardly.

FIG. 10 shows the roll of cloth in its uppermost position with the table tops 12 and 14 partly closed, the view illustrating the manner in which the opposing edges of the latter help to close the film sections around the bottom of the roll of cloth.

When the table tops close, the switch 268 is actuated and this in turn energizes solenoid 312 to power cylinder 8 to move the elevator down. At the same time, switch 268 energizes solenoid 314- which powers the cylinders 198 to move the sealing bars 210 and 212 inwardly toward each other, in order to seal the plastic films together. As the bars 210 and 212 move together, they gather the sealing material around the bottom surfaces of the package to be sealed, by means of the rollers 222 and 228. The sealing members 216 and 218 thus seal the packaging material above the rollers but beneath the bottom of the roll of cloth 148.

When arms 16 and 18 close, switches 274 and 276 are closed thereby. These switches are connected to the Vertrod unit and trigger it to energize the heating element 218 for a sufiicient length of time to seal together the films. At the end of the time-delayed sealing period (approximately two seconds of heating and seven seconds of cooling with the members 216 and 218 pressed together) controlled by the Vertrod unit by means of its conventional 1 1 time delay circuit, the Vertrod unit then ceases to energize the heater 218 and instead activates the solenoid valve 316. This in turn powers the cylinders 198 to retract their pistons and move the arms 16 and 18 apart.

At the time the Vertrod unit causes the arms 16 and 18 to move apart, it also energizes solenoid 322 which actuates cylinder 138. The latter then moves its piston outwardly to move ejector 32 toward table top section 40. This motion, accordingly, moves the scaled bolt of cloth onto the rollers 34. At the same time, the motion of the rod 262 actuates switch 266 again.

In the meantime, movement of the elevator to its down position actuates switch 286 and, through switch 158 or 186, depending on which position switch 326 is in, this starts the conveyor and another bolt of cloth is moved onto the elevator. If, at this point, the switch 338 has been left closed, the above cycle repeats itself. If switch 338 is open, then packaging the next bolt will await the closing of switch 338.

The switch 282 which controls the blower motor 254 is actuated by the upward motion of the elevator 6, so that as the material is gathered around the bolt of cloth 148, the stream of air issuing from the hoses 256 and 258 blows the material at the end of the bolt in an upward direction, thus preventing these end materials from being caught below the table tops during a sealing operation. When the carriage descends, the switch 282 is open again to stop the blower.

It will be observed by reference to FIG. 9, that when the table tops move apart to admit another bolt of cloth or other package to be covered, the forward motion of table section 40 on the cam bars 124 causes the table section to tilt downwardly, this in turn causing the covered bolt to slide off the rollers 34 and onto a receiving platform.

In view of the above it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense, and it is also intended that the appended claims shall cover all such equivalent variations as come within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A machine for wrapping packages in a heat-sealable wrapping material comprising in combination:

an elevator adapted to move a package thereon from a first position to a second position along a path in a vertical direction, the elevator engaging the package at the bottom thereof;

first means for moving the elevator;

an elongated heat-sealing first member located at one side of, and movable toward and away from, said p an elongated second member located at the other side of, and movable toward and away from, said path, said first and second members being adapted to meet in said path;

second means for moving said first and second members;

a pair of horizontal platforms movably mounted above said first and second members and movable toward and away from said path and each other, one of said platforms being provided with an exit portion;

movable pushing means mounted above said platforms and being adapted to push a sealed package away from said path and toward said portion;

holding means for a pair of sources of said heat-sealable wrapping material mounted on the machine with one source on each side of said path, the leading ends of materials from the sources being joined to present a sheet of wrapping material lying across said path and below the path of travel of said heat sealing members; and

control means for operating the elevator, platforms,

heat sealing members, and pushing means at least partially sequentially whereby said platforms move away from each other, a package is pushed upwardly by the elevator through the opening between the platforms and against said sheet to draw the latter upwardly and around the package, the platforms close to support the package, the elevator moves downwardly, the heat sealing members move against each other to seal the material, and the sealed package is thereafter pushed away from said path and onto said portion of one of the platforms.

2. The machine of claim 1 in which each of the first and second members is mounted between spaced arms at the upper ends thereof, the lower ends of the arms being pivoted to the bottom of the machine, and said second means comprises a pneumatically operated piston.

3. The machine of claim 1 in which each of the first and second members comprises an elongated heating element having a leading face adapted to cooperate in a plane with that of the other member, one of said members including a cutting wire positioned along the leading face for the length of the member.

4. The machine of claim 1 in which said one of said platforms includes, as hearing members fastened therebeneath, at least a pair of cam-rails with the lengthwise direction of the rails lying parallel to the direction of motion of said platform and the point of maximum height of the rails lying toward the outer edge of the platform; and including a bearing for each rail mounted below the plane of said one platform when in closed position, whereby when the latter moves away from the other platform, the eccentricity of the rails permits said one platform to tilt downwardly at an angle to said plane.

5. The machine of claim 1 in which said second position is located at a position so fixed with relation to the plane in which said platforms move that when the platforms close toward each other, they are enabled to move underneath a package being supported by the elevator, thereby to assume support of the package.

6. The machine of claim 5 in which said first and second members are adapted to meet proximate to and below said second position when the elevator has moved downwardly therefrom.

7. The machine of claim 1 including a conveyor for moving a package onto said elevator, the conveyor being controlled by the elevator whereby the conveyor is stopped after it has moved a package onto the elevator and remains at rest until the elevator is empty and in position to receive another package thereon.

8. The machine of claim 4 in which said one platform comprises first and second leaves lying in said common plane when the platforms are together, adjacent edges of the leaves being hinged together, the first leaf always moving in the common plane, and said rails being attached to the under surface of the second leaf, whereby the second leaf tilts downwardly with respect to the first leaf when the platforms move away from each other.

9. The machine of claim 1 in which said portion of the one platform includes a plurality of surface rollers rotatably mounted in the platform with their axes running parallel, to the length of the platform, whereby, when the latter is tilted, the rollers facilitate the sliding of a package on the platform.

10. The machine of claim 8 in which a major portion of the surface of the second leaf comprises a plurality of rollers mounted with their axes parallel to the length of the leaf thereby to facilitate the sliding of a package on said leaf.

11. The machine of claim 1 in which said elevator includes two package-position sensing members, one of said sensing members sensing that a package is deposited on the elevator, and the other of said sensing members sensing the location of a package on the elevator.

12. The machine of claim 11 in which said other of the sensing members is adjustable transversely with respect to the center of the elevator, whereby the member may be adjusted to sense that a package approximately is centered transversely on the elevator.

13. The machine of claim 1 including racks attached at the ends of said platforms, the racks at the ends of one of said platforms overlying the racks at the ends of the other platform, the rack teeth being in opposition at each end engaging a pinion therebetween, the pinion being rotatably mounted on the machine, whereby, motion of one of the platforms causes motion of the other platform away from said one platform.

14. The machine of claim 1 in which the movable pushing means comprises an ejector and a fluid operated cylinder and piston for moving the ejector, the cylinder being attached to one of said platforms by means of a lost motion coupling.

15. The machine of claim 1 in which said first means comprises a fluid-operated cylinder and piston mounted horizontally on the machine, the piston being coupled to each end of the elevator for vertical motion of the latter, by means of a motion-multiplying, pulley and cable system.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1934 Becker 53-33 2/1966 Bradley et al. 53229 X U.S. Cl. X.R. 53198, 229 

